My aunt's a Red - will you still play with me? Att Darren & Visar

[Elgee]

Continued from HERE

 

 

With Darren in tow, Zarinen made her way down the winding ramps and long passages of the White Tower until at last reaching the exit that led to the Barracks and training areas. She had debated wearing her shawl, but decided in the end that in all fairness to her relative, it would probably not be in his best interest to blazon the matter. Word would of course spread rapidly, but no need for everyone to know from the get go which Ajah exactly his aunt was a member of. That kind of notoriety could well prove too much for a young boy already burdened by too many stresses.

 

The sounds of practice swords clacking against each other, grunts, groans, laughter and shouts reached her long before they entered the yard proper. She felt Darren hesitate beside her, and gave him an encouraging smile. Somewhat at a loss for what to do now, Zarinen let her eyes wander over the men and women practising their craft, and the smattering of Aes Sedai watching the activities.

 

Her eyes settled on a youngish Tairen with short black hair, who was standing to one side. He seemed friendly enough, not too young or too old, but clearly with the grace and dangerous air only a Warder could display so casually.

 

"Come, Darren, let's see if someone can assist us here." She led the way to the Tairen, and nodded regally to him. "Good day, Gaidin. I am Zarinen Sedai, and this is my nephew, Darren Rafaliva. He has expressed an interest in training as a Warder. I wonder if you can assist us?"

 

 

Zarinen Rafaliva

Red Highest

Going where no Red has gone before

[Visar Falmaien]

There were times during the day where Visar would cease practicing for himself or training with others, and simply observe.  His trainees, the few that actually stuck with him anyway, were doing well enough, though they all had bad habits to overcome, just like the rest of them.  That was why they trained together, the young with the old, the experienced with the inexperienced; this way, they could learn as much as they could from each other and still be able to fight with their own individual styles.

 

It was while he was watching the yards, casually scanning back and forth to keep an eye out for any unnecessary scuffles between trainees, that Visar noticed a well dressed woman with a young man in tow.  On closer observation, he noted that she moved with the grace and demeanor that was almost unmistakably as an Aes Sedai.  The young lad with her looked a little nervous, but there was an energy to his step, an excitement at being here, Visar thought.

 

She caught his eye and he moved to meet them.  He nodded back, slightly deeper, somewhat surprised that she would show him respect first instead of the other way around.

 

"Good day, Gaidin. I am Zarinen Sedai, and this is my nephew, Darren Rafaliva. He has expressed an interest in training as a Warder. I wonder if you can assist us?"

 

"Of course I will, Zarinen Aes Sedai." he said with no hesitation. You did not hesitate, or even say no to the request of an Aes Sedai.  Certainly not to one who was being so strangely polite. He gave her nephew, whom he now saw somewhat of a resemblance to the Aes Sedai, a brief glance.  The young man was exceptionally tall, with fiery red hair and intense green eyes.  Certainly a distinct appearance, even for a Saldaean.  At least, Visar thought he might be Saldaean, though from his height, hair and eye color, Visar was confused enough in recognizing nationalities to mistake him for having Aiel blood.

 

"Of course, the more I know about Darren the more I can be of assistance."  Visar turned to the boy and asked him,

 

"Tell me, Darren Rafaliva, why do you wish to join the Warders?  It is a difficult and dangerous occupation to train for, requiring of you the strictest discipline and hardest, most taxing labors.  For me it was an uphill struggle every step of the way, and that struggle does not end with becoming an Aes Sedai's Warder. Do you think you have the will, the drive, to climb that Mountain of duty?"

 

He stared intently at Darren's green eyes with his own dark brown, measuring the boy's reply critically for any hesitation or weakness.  The boy did not look a stranger to the blade at his side, nor did he seem out of shape, but to become a Warder wasn't all about strength or skill with a weapon.